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Species Suitability Guide

The Importance of Location, Use and Soil Type

It is essential that when choosing your species, attention is given to plant locality, intended use and soil type. This guide is provided to help you make that choice.

Clay Soils

Trees

  • Acer campestre (Field Maple)
  • Acer platanoides (Norway Maple)
  • Acer pseudoplatanus (Sycamore)
  • Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut)
  • Alnus cordata (Italian Alder)
  • Alnus glutinosa (Common Alder)
  • Alnus incana (Grey Alder)
  • Betula pendula (Silver Birch)
  • Betula pubescens (Downy Birch)
  • Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam)
  • Fraxinus excelsior (Ash)
  • Ilex aquifolium (Holly)
  • Malus sylvestris (Crab Apple)
  • Populus (All Poplars)
  • Prunus avium (Wild Cherry)
  • Prunus cerasifera (Cherry Plum)
  • Prunus padus (Bird Cherry)
  • Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
  • Quercus robur (English Oak)
  • Quercus rubra (Red Oak)
  • Salix (All Willows)
  • Sorbus aria (Whitebeam)
  • Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan)
  • Tilia cordata (Small-Leaved Lime)
  • Tilia platyphyllos (Large-Leaved Lime)
  • Abies nordmanniana (Caucasian Fir)
  • Abies procera (Noble Fir)
  • Larix (All Larches)
  • Pinus (All Pines)
  • Taxus baccata (English Yew)

Shrubs

  • Berberis thunbergii
  • Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea'
  • Cornus (All Dogwoods)
  • Corylus avellana (Hazel)
  • Cotoneaster franchetii
  • Cotoneaster simonsii
  • Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn)
  • Lonicera nitida (Boxleaf Honeysuckle)
  • Lonicera pileata (Privet Honeysuckle)
  • Prunus laurocerasus (Common Laurel)
  • Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn)
  • Rosa (All Roses)
  • Symphoricarpos albus (Snowberry)
  • Viburnum lantana (Wayfaring Tree)
  • Viburnum opulus (Guelder Rose)

Light Soils

Trees

  • Acer campestre (Field Maple)
  • Betula pendula (Silver Birch)
  • Betula pubescens (Downy Birch)
  • Castanea sativa (Sweet Chestnut)
  • Fraxinus excelsior (Ash)
  • Ilex aquifolium (Holly)
  • Juglans regia (Walnut)
  • Malus sylvestris (Crab Apple)
  • Populus tremula (Aspen)
  • Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
  • Sorbus aria (Whitebeam)
  • Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan)
  • Larix decidua (European Larch)
  • Pinus (All Pines)
  • Taxus baccata (English Yew)

Shrubs

  • Cornus sanguinea (Common Dogwood)
  • Corylus avellana (Hazel)
  • Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn)
  • Euonymus europaeus (Spindleberry)
  • Ligustrum vulgare (Common Privet)
  • Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn)
  • Rhamnus frangula (Alder Buckthorn)
  • Rosa canina (Dog Rose)
  • Viburnum lantana (Wayfaring Tree)

Chalk Soils

Trees

  • Acer campestre (Field Maple)
  • Acer platanoides (Norway Maple)
  • Acer pseudoplatanus (Sycamore)
  • Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut)
  • Betula pendula (Silver Birch)
  • Betula pubescens (Downy Birch)
  • Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam)
  • Fagus sylvatica (Beech)
  • Fraxinus excelsior (Ash)
  • Ilex aquifolium (Holly)
  • Malus sylvestris (Crab Apple)
  • Populus alba (White Poplar)
  • Sorbus aria (Whitebeam)
  • Tilia cordata (Small-Leaved Lime)
  • Tilia platyphyllos (Large-Leaved Lime)
  • Ulmus glabra (Wych Elm)
  • Pinus nigra (Austrian Pine)
  • Taxus baccata (English Yew)

Shrubs

  • Berberis (All)
  • Buxus sempervirens (Common Box)
  • Cotoneaster (All)
  • Euonymus europaeus (Spindleberry)
  • Ligustrum vulgare (Common Privet)
  • Lonicera nitida (Boxleaf Honeysuckle)
  • Lonicera pileata (Privet Honeysuckle)
  • Symphoricarpos albus (Snowberry)

Wet Soils

Trees

  • Alnus cordata (Italian Alder)
  • Alnus glutinosa (Common Alder)
  • Alnus incana (Grey Alder)
  • Betula pendula (Silver Birch)
  • Betula pubescens (Downy Birch)
  • Fraxinus excelsior (Ash)
  • Populus (All Poplars)
  • Quercus robur (English Oak)
  • Salix (All Willows)
  • Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan)
  • Picea sitchensis (Sitka Spruce)

Shrubs

  • Cornus alba (Red Barked Dogwood)
  • Corylus avellana (Hazel)
  • Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn)
  • Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn)
  • Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn)
  • Salix caprea (Goat Willow)
  • Symphoricarpos albus (Snowberry)
  • Viburnum opulus (Guelder Rose)

Coastal Sites

Trees

  • Acer platanoides (Norway Maple)
  • Acer pseudoplatanus (Sycamore)
  • Castanea sativa (Sweet Chestnut)
  • Fraxinus excelsior (Ash)
  • Ilex aquifolium (Holly)
  • Populus alba (White Poplar)
  • Populus canescens (Grey Poplar)
  • Populus nigra 'Italica' (Lombardy Poplar)
  • Populus tremula (Aspen)
  • Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
  • Quercus robur (English Oak)
  • Salix (Most Willows)
  • Sorbus aria (Whitebeam)
  • Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan)
  • Ulmus glabra (Wych Elm)
  • Pinus nigra (Austrian Pine)
  • Pinus nigra var. maritima (Corsican Pine)

Shrubs

  • Cotoneaster franchetii
  • Cotoneaster simonsii
  • Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn)
  • Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn)
  • Lonicera pileata (Privet Honeysuckle)
  • Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn)
  • Rosa (Many Roses)
  • Salix cinerea (Grey Willow)
  • Salix purpurea (Purple Osier)
  • Salix viminalis (Common Osier)
  • Viburnum lantana (Wayfaring Tree)
  • Viburnum opulus (Guelder Rose)

Exposed Sites

Trees

  • Acer campestre (Field Maple)
  • Acer platanoides (Norway Maple)
  • Betula pendula (Silver Birch)
  • Betula pubescens (Downy Birch)
  • Fagus sylvatica (Beech)
  • Fraxinus excelsior (Ash)
  • Populus tremula (Aspen)
  • Prunus avium (Wild Cherry)
  • Quercus robur (English Oak)
  • Sorbus aria (Whitebeam)
  • Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan)
  • Tilia cordata (Small-Leaved Lime)
  • Ulmus glabra (Wych Elm)
  • Larix decidua (European Larch)
  • Picea abies (Norway Spruce)
  • Pinus nigra (Austrian Pine)
  • Pinus nigra var. maritima (Corsican Pine)
  • Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine)
  • Taxus baccata (English Yew)

Shrubs

  • Cornus alba (Red Barked Dogwood)
  • Corylus avellana (Hazel)
  • Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn)
  • Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn)
  • Ligustrum vulgare (Common Privet)
  • Lonicera pileata (Privet Honeysuckle)
  • Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn)
  • Rosa canina (Dog Rose)
  • Salix cinerea (Grey Willow)
  • Salix purpurea (Purple Osier)
  • Salix viminalis (Common Osier)
  • Viburnum opulus (Guelder Rose)

Fast Growing Species

Trees

  • Acer platanoides (Norway Maple)
  • Acer pseudoplatanus (Sycamore)
  • Betula pendula (Silver Birch)
  • Betula pubescens (Downy Birch)
  • Populus (All Poplars)
  • Quercus rubra (Red Oak)
  • Salix (All Willows)
  • Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (Lawson Cypress)
  • Picea abies (Norway Spruce)
  • Picea omorika (Serbian Spruce)
  • Picea sitchensis (Sitka Spruce)
  • Pinus nigra (Austrian Pine)
  • Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine)
  • Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas Fir)

Shrubs

  • Berberis (All)
  • Cornus (All Dogwoods)
  • Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn)
  • Prunus laurocerasus (Common Laurel)
  • Salix cinerea (Grey Willow)
  • Salix purpurea (Purple Osier)
  • Salix viminalis (Common Osier)
  • Viburnum opulus (Guelder Rose)

Guidance

Woodland Planting Guide

Hedgerow Planting Guide

Species Identifier

Planting & Maintenance Advice

Species Suitability Guide

Tree Life Expectancy

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